Who Should I Start? Deebo Samuel Sr. or Michael Pittman Jr.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
19.3 0.0 0.0 7.3 85.3 0.6

Deebo Samuel Sr. News

Deebo Samuel Sr. Hits Free Agency After a Decent Season

Thursday, February 12, 7:35 AM

Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. continued to deliver decent contributions in the passing game last season, which was his first with the team. He finished the year with 72 catches, 727 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns, his highest marks in those categories since 2021. He also rushed for 75 yards and an additional touchdown on the ground. Although it was a good but not great year by Samuel's standards, he still finished as the overall WR25 in full-PPR leagues, cementing himself as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3/flex on a weekly basis. Samuel restructured his contract with the Commanders to become a free agent this offseason, so he'll hit the open market in March. A return to Washington seems possible, but he'll presumably explore all of his options before putting pen to paper. Samuel fits best on a team with an established No. 1 wide receiver, so that he can operate as the No. 2 receiver with contributions as a gadget-type player behind the line of scrimmage or in the short-to-medium passing game. His 2026 fantasy outlook will depend on his landing spot and his eventual quarterback pairing, but for now, we'd expect him to remain a top-30 fantasy receiver.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
8.2 0.0 0.0 3.6 34.6 0.2

Michael Pittman Jr. News

Michael Pittman Jr. a Good Fit With Steelers?

Tuesday, March 10, 7:19 AM

The Athletic's Mike DeFabo believes that newly acquired wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., a player with good size (6-foot-4, 223 pounds), physicality, and pedigree, will be a good fit with the Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Steelers re-sign quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer "seems to prefer veterans who understand the nuances of route running, how to read coverages and what it takes to prepare for an opponent." Pittman, who should slot in as the No. 2 behind DK Metcalf, "checks a lot of those boxes." The 28-year-old will receive a new three-year, $59 million contract with the Steelers after being acquired from the Indianapolis Colts on Monday. Pittman did lead the Colts with 80 catches last year and had a career-best seven touchdowns, but his yardage total (784) was down for a second straight season. His 2026 fantasy value hinges on whether Rodgers returns for another season in Pittsburgh.


Deebo Samuel Sr. vs. Michael Pittman Jr.

Still trying to decide between Samuel Sr. and Pittman Jr.? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Deebo Samuel Sr. is projected to score 19.3 points this week while Michael Pittman Jr. is projected to score 8.2 points.